Stories from 15 July 2011
Bhutan: Legalizing Abortion
“Abortion is not permitted in Bhutan because we are Buddhist, isn’t it more Buddhist to forgive a woman for her mistake and give her a new life instead of letting her die along with child, which we were trying to protect?” – comments Bhutanese blogger Passu.
Nepal: Budget 2011/12
Nepal Blogs provides a roundup of reactions of Nepali Twitter users on Nepal’s budget for fiscal year 2011/12 which was presented in the parliament today.
Bhutan: No Uncontested Winners In Election
Bhutanese democracy has an unique system. Tshering Tobgay informs that according to the constitution of the country voters have the right to accept or reject a candidate through vote even if that candidate is the only candidate in that constituency.
Colombia's Armed Conflict Threatening Indigenous Peoples
“The continuation of Colombia’s internal armed conflict threatens the survival of Colombia’s indigenous peoples, and their experience is shared by the millions of other Colombians affected by the conflict”: writes Anthony Dest in a guest post for Just the Facts about the Nasa indigenous people getting “caught in the crossfire”...
Paraguay: Congress Rejects Amendment That Would Allow Presidential Re-Election
Americas Quarterly in its Daily Focus blog reports: “The Paraguayan Congress on Thursday rejected a constitutional amendment that would allow presidential re-election […] Several supporters of the amendment walked out of the hearing in protest of the decision, including Senator Carlos Filizzola, who said, ‘We are turning our backs on...
Trinidad & Tobago: Impressionistic Art
Woman of Color blogs about a new artist who paints impressionistic landscapes.
Bermuda: Out of Sync Development
Of the controversial Bazarian development, Vexed Bermoothes says: “We have some screwy priorities in this country. We refused to plan for housing that our international executives could buy…and then we give concessions in order to develop the same thing under the guise of tourism.”
Bahamas: Road Works
Weblog Bahamas‘ Jerome Pinder wonders if the New Providence Road Improvement Project is a “road to nowhere…”
Cuba: Interview with Palacios
the voice of el morro interviews Hector Palacios, a name associated with “the internal opposition in Cuba.”
Russia: Clashes in Sagra
Kevin Rothrock of A Good Treaty discusses the recent “ethnic” clashes in the little south-Russian town of Sagra and how these are exploited by various political and nationalistic interests.
Bermuda: The Good Governance Act
“The Web has been around for 20 years now. It’s a pity the Bermuda Government has yet to use it to distribute the bills that have been tabled for debate in the House of Assembly…”: Still, Vexed Bermoothes manages to get a copy of the Good Governance Act and shares...
Peru: Transportation Strike in Lima: A Campaign Against the Mayor?
The mayor of Lima, Susana Villarán, has experienced an outpour of all kinds criticism at the six month mark of her term. A strike by transportation carriers on July 13 is the Mayor's most recent challenge. Bloggers and Twitter users shared reactions, reports, images and analysis throughout the day of the strike.
Germany: Rocking the Wall of the GDR
James Shingler at The View East writes about East German rock and pop music and its subvertive role in changing society during the 1970s and 1980s.
Hungary: Legislating Religion
Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum reports on the adoption of a new and criticized law on religions and religious communities in Hungary.
Russia: Illusory Economic Stagnation?
Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion argues that the view of Russian economic stagnation is illusory, if taking demography, development level, etc into account.
Morocco: A Personal Tale of Protest
The Moroccan pro-democracy movement known as February 20, struggles to communicate with the public amid a government-led campaign to discredit it. The movement primarily uses the Internet to explain its position and ideas. But it is the personal account of its own militants that impacts the wider public more starkly. Here is the moving story of one activist, Younes Loukili.
China: DIY I-Pad 3
A young man spent 15 days to compose a I-Pad 3 himself. Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu puts together the video of the DIY process and netizens comments.
China: High-speed rail
Many Chinese raised serious questions about the safety, comfort and efficiency of the new high-speed rail line, in particular after the three malfunctions[zh] in the space of four days (Between July 10-14). (Details from China Media Project)
China: Why Weibo?
Charlie from Chengdu living explains to his readers the benefits of using Weibo.
Malaysia: Facebook Netizens Want Prime Minister to Resign
A Facebook page demanding the resignation of Malaysia’s Prime Minister has gathered almost 200,000 supporters a few days after it was created. The campaign was initiated on the same day when thousands of people marched in the streets during the Bersih 2.0 pro-democracy rally which was violently dispersed by the police.
Philippines: Presidential Photo Goes Viral
A photo of Philippine President Benigno Aquino posing in his office in the Presidential Palace has gone viral, reaping mostly negative reactions from netizens who criticized the presence of a cigarette box and a large ashtray in an almost empty desk.
